• TRENDING
  • Fitness
  • Healthcare
  • Lifestyle
  • Shopping
  • Nutrition
  • Life / Sports
  • International
  • Nutrition
  • Fitness
  • Nutrition Facts

Healthy Life Lane

SUBSCRIBE
  • Fitness
    FitnessShow More
    the-best-smith-machine-for-your-home-gym-in-2025-–-breaking-muscle
    The Best Smith Machine for Your Home Gym in 2025 – Breaking Muscle
    March 4, 2025
    strongest-pre-workout:-the-best-high-stim-picks-of-2025-–-breaking-muscle
    Strongest Pre-Workout: The Best High-Stim Picks of 2025 – Breaking Muscle
    March 3, 2025
    best-creatine-for-men-of-2025-–-breaking-muscle
    Best Creatine for Men of 2025 – Breaking Muscle
    March 3, 2025
    best-elliptical-machines-of-2025,-reviewed-by-fitness-experts-–-breaking-muscle
    Best Elliptical Machines of 2025, Reviewed by Fitness Experts – Breaking Muscle
    February 7, 2025
    the-best-power-rack-of-2025,-according-to-a-personal-trainer-–-breaking-muscle
    The Best Power Rack of 2025, According to a Personal Trainer – Breaking Muscle
    February 7, 2025
  • Healthcare
    HealthcareShow More
    your-knees-and-back-are-begging-you-to-try-a-recumbent-bike
    Your Knees and Back Are Begging You to Try a Recumbent Bike
    July 1, 2025
    the-wrong-shoes-can-make-your-knee-pain-worse
    The Wrong Shoes Can Make Your Knee Pain Worse
    June 30, 2025
    women’s-hiking-pants-don’t-have-to-suck—shop-our-picks
    Women’s Hiking Pants Don’t Have to Suck—Shop Our Picks
    June 27, 2025
    10-hamstring-stretches-your-tight,-achy-legs-will-love
    10 Hamstring Stretches Your Tight, Achy Legs Will Love
    June 26, 2025
    here’s-what-fitness-editors-really-keep-in-their-gym-bags
    Here’s What Fitness Editors Really Keep in Their Gym Bags
    June 26, 2025
  • Lifestyle
    LifestyleShow More
    how-targeted-volume-training-solves-training-dysfunction-for-real,-lasting-results
    How Targeted Volume Training Solves Training Dysfunction for Real, Lasting Results
    June 6, 2025
    proximamente-el-10-de-junio-:-25-minute-speed-train-de-joel-freeman
    Próximamente el 10 de junio : 25 Minute Speed Train de Joel Freeman
    May 27, 2025
    a-venir-le-10-juin-:-25-minute-speed-train-de-joel-freeman
    À venir le 10 juin : 25 Minute Speed Train de Joel Freeman
    May 27, 2025
    coming-june-10th:-25-minute-speed-train-by-joel-freeman
    Coming June 10th: 25 Minute Speed Train by Joel Freeman
    May 27, 2025
    introducing-the-bodi-experience-community:-a-new-way-to-connect,-stay-motivated,-and-thrive
    Introducing the BODi Experience Community: A New Way to Connect, Stay Motivated, and Thrive
    May 19, 2025
  • Nutrition
    NutritionShow More
    do-probiotics-help-you-lose-weight?-find-out-now
    Do Probiotics Help You Lose Weight? Find Out Now
    May 9, 2025
    how-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-glp-1s:-a-conversation-guide
    How To Talk To Your Doctor About GLP-1s: A Conversation Guide
    May 8, 2025
    fat-burning-supplements-for-men:-hype-or-effective-solution?
    Fat Burning Supplements For Men: Hype Or Effective Solution?
    May 8, 2025
    body-fat-scale:-are-smart-scales-the-smarter-way-to-measure-health?
    Body Fat Scale: Are Smart Scales The Smarter Way To Measure Health?
    May 7, 2025
    best-snack-for-weight-loss:-smart-choices-for-success
    Best Snack For Weight Loss: Smart Choices For Success
    May 6, 2025
  • Privacy Policy
Reading: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Nailing Your First Pull-Up
Share
  • TRENDING
  • Fitness
  • Healthcare
  • Lifestyle
  • Shopping
  • Nutrition
  • Life / Sports
  • International
  • Nutrition
  • Fitness
  • Nutrition Facts

Healthy Life Lane

SUBSCRIBE
  • Fitness
    FitnessShow More
    the-best-smith-machine-for-your-home-gym-in-2025-–-breaking-muscle
    The Best Smith Machine for Your Home Gym in 2025 – Breaking Muscle
    March 4, 2025
    strongest-pre-workout:-the-best-high-stim-picks-of-2025-–-breaking-muscle
    Strongest Pre-Workout: The Best High-Stim Picks of 2025 – Breaking Muscle
    March 3, 2025
    best-creatine-for-men-of-2025-–-breaking-muscle
    Best Creatine for Men of 2025 – Breaking Muscle
    March 3, 2025
    best-elliptical-machines-of-2025,-reviewed-by-fitness-experts-–-breaking-muscle
    Best Elliptical Machines of 2025, Reviewed by Fitness Experts – Breaking Muscle
    February 7, 2025
    the-best-power-rack-of-2025,-according-to-a-personal-trainer-–-breaking-muscle
    The Best Power Rack of 2025, According to a Personal Trainer – Breaking Muscle
    February 7, 2025
  • Healthcare
    HealthcareShow More
    your-knees-and-back-are-begging-you-to-try-a-recumbent-bike
    Your Knees and Back Are Begging You to Try a Recumbent Bike
    July 1, 2025
    the-wrong-shoes-can-make-your-knee-pain-worse
    The Wrong Shoes Can Make Your Knee Pain Worse
    June 30, 2025
    women’s-hiking-pants-don’t-have-to-suck—shop-our-picks
    Women’s Hiking Pants Don’t Have to Suck—Shop Our Picks
    June 27, 2025
    10-hamstring-stretches-your-tight,-achy-legs-will-love
    10 Hamstring Stretches Your Tight, Achy Legs Will Love
    June 26, 2025
    here’s-what-fitness-editors-really-keep-in-their-gym-bags
    Here’s What Fitness Editors Really Keep in Their Gym Bags
    June 26, 2025
  • Lifestyle
    LifestyleShow More
    how-targeted-volume-training-solves-training-dysfunction-for-real,-lasting-results
    How Targeted Volume Training Solves Training Dysfunction for Real, Lasting Results
    June 6, 2025
    proximamente-el-10-de-junio-:-25-minute-speed-train-de-joel-freeman
    Próximamente el 10 de junio : 25 Minute Speed Train de Joel Freeman
    May 27, 2025
    a-venir-le-10-juin-:-25-minute-speed-train-de-joel-freeman
    À venir le 10 juin : 25 Minute Speed Train de Joel Freeman
    May 27, 2025
    coming-june-10th:-25-minute-speed-train-by-joel-freeman
    Coming June 10th: 25 Minute Speed Train by Joel Freeman
    May 27, 2025
    introducing-the-bodi-experience-community:-a-new-way-to-connect,-stay-motivated,-and-thrive
    Introducing the BODi Experience Community: A New Way to Connect, Stay Motivated, and Thrive
    May 19, 2025
  • Nutrition
    NutritionShow More
    do-probiotics-help-you-lose-weight?-find-out-now
    Do Probiotics Help You Lose Weight? Find Out Now
    May 9, 2025
    how-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-glp-1s:-a-conversation-guide
    How To Talk To Your Doctor About GLP-1s: A Conversation Guide
    May 8, 2025
    fat-burning-supplements-for-men:-hype-or-effective-solution?
    Fat Burning Supplements For Men: Hype Or Effective Solution?
    May 8, 2025
    body-fat-scale:-are-smart-scales-the-smarter-way-to-measure-health?
    Body Fat Scale: Are Smart Scales The Smarter Way To Measure Health?
    May 7, 2025
    best-snack-for-weight-loss:-smart-choices-for-success
    Best Snack For Weight Loss: Smart Choices For Success
    May 6, 2025
  • Privacy Policy
Reading: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Nailing Your First Pull-Up
Share
  • Fitness
  • Healthcare
  • Lifestyle
  • Nutrition
  • Privacy Policy
Have an existing account? Sign In
© Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Healthy Life Lane > Blog > Healthcare > Your Step-By-Step Guide to Nailing Your First Pull-Up
Healthcare

Your Step-By-Step Guide to Nailing Your First Pull-Up

Kayne Collins
Last updated: October 9, 2024 4:56 pm
Kayne Collins
Share
4 Min Read
your-step-by-step-guide-to-nailing-your-first-pull-up
SHARE

In its simplest terms, the pull-up seems pretty basic: hang from a bar, then pull yourself up to it. It’s not complicated, but that sure doesn’t mean that it’s easy. In fact, this bodyweight, no-fancy-footwork-needed move is one of most difficult strength exercises to master, making it a common reach-for-it goal for many gymgoers out there.

Impressive yet intimidating, the pull-up is widely considered the holy grail of strength exercises, Kira Stokes, CPT, a personal trainer in New York and LA and the creator of the KSFIT app, tells SELF. “It’s a flex when you can do a pull-up, and especially if you can bang them out rep after rep.”

That’s because a pull-up is not something that just anyone can hop up onto a bar and do with ease—even someone who is otherwise relatively strong. The move takes genuine, focused work, along with a whole lot of strength. “To the naked eye, it’s an upper-body exercise, but it’s truly a full-body exercise,” Stokes explains.

“When your goal is to do a pull-up, you really have to dissect what a pull-up is from the ground up, then determine how you can properly strengthen the areas that are most involved to progress to it,” adds Stokes. So let’s get to dissecting everything you need for pull-up progression, shall we?

Pull-ups require a ton of back and arm strength—and help you build even more.

Pull-ups primarily work your lats (our largest back muscles), biceps, and forearms, Amy Potter, CPT, personal trainer in Hermosa Beach and strength coach at Ladies Who Lift, tells SELF. They also require significant core engagement and control, and a whole lot of shoulder mobility, says Stokes.

Stokes says to think of them as hanging hollow holds. Your arms are overhead (that’s where shoulder mobility comes in), your core has to be super strong to keep you torso stable, and your legs and glutes must fire so that they don’t flail as your body moves up and down.

During a pull-up, you’re using the strength in your lats, biceps, and forearms to literally lift the entirety of your bodyweight, Potter notes. That’s why if you haven’t been working on upper-body strength regularly, they’ll be a lot more challenging for you, she says.

Beyond giving you bragging rights in the gym, adding pull-ups to your workouts is great for building strength, which can benefit you in and out of the gym. “Having a strong posterior chain—the back side of the body—helps you maintain good posture, reduces the risk of injuries, and can translate into improved form and strength in other exercises, such as a deadlift, where having a strong back is also important,” Potter explains.

It’s also a great grip strength exercise, Stokes adds. That’s important, since research links it as a solid predictor of overall health and longevity. Chances are, if you’ve got a great grip, that means you’ve been strength training and are experiencing the health benefits that come with that—say, for your heart, lungs, bones, and more, all of which can help you in the long run.

Getting your first pull-up takes time, patience, and dedication.

We’re not going to sugarcoat it here: Pull-ups are hard AF. Depending on your starting point, it could take months (or even years) of focused work in the gym to do your first one.

You Might Also Like

Your Knees and Back Are Begging You to Try a Recumbent Bike

The Wrong Shoes Can Make Your Knee Pain Worse

Women’s Hiking Pants Don’t Have to Suck—Shop Our Picks

10 Hamstring Stretches Your Tight, Achy Legs Will Love

Here’s What Fitness Editors Really Keep in Their Gym Bags

TAGGED:Fitness
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

New Releases

- Advertisement -
Ad image

Trending Stories

the-right-carbon-plated-running-shoe-can-help-you-snag-a-new-pr
Healthcare

The Right Carbon-Plated Running Shoe Can Help You Snag a New PR

May 30, 2025
progressive-overload-is-the-gym-secret-you-need-to-finally-hit-your-fitness-goals
Healthcare

Progressive Overload Is the Gym Secret You Need to Finally Hit Your Fitness Goals

May 6, 2025
shakeology-de-pay-de-calabaza
Lifestyle

Shakeology de pay de calabaza

October 4, 2024
body-fat-scale:-are-smart-scales-the-smarter-way-to-measure-health?
Nutrition

Body Fat Scale: Are Smart Scales The Smarter Way To Measure Health?

May 7, 2025
blood-sugar-test:-how-and-when-to-do-it?-–-healthifyme
Nutrition

Blood Sugar Test: How And When To Do It? – HealthifyMe

April 22, 2024
corporate-nutrition-workshops-|-enhance-employee-health-&-performance
Nutrition

Corporate Nutrition Workshops | Enhance Employee Health & Performance

September 12, 2024

Follow US on Social Media

The following Terms and Conditions govern the use of Healthy Life Lane and are in place to protect everyone who uses the website. Health Fuel Zone d.o.o owner of Healthy Life Lane has the right to revise and update these Terms and Conditions at any time without prior notification; therefore, you should visit this page periodically to review these Terms of Use including the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy of our owner Health Fuel Zone d.o.o.

Healthy Life Lane

2024 © Proudly powered by Health Fuel Zone d.o.o. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?